GBW Visits the Fol-Da-Tank Company

 
By President Mark Davis
November 21, 2012
 

On our way back from Stanley, Iowa, we stopped by to visit the folks at the Fol-Da-Tank Company in Milan, Illinois. We met with Jan and Chad Christensen and spent a couple of hours learning about their products and seeing how they manufacture their goods. It was quite an interesting tour and nice to see how some of the things that we use in our drills are made.

Fol-Da-Tank Company patented the first folding tank in 1954 and while the design and materials have changed some over the years, the folding dump tank is still a mainstay in the tanker shuttle business. The tanks are "Made in the USA" right in Milan by a small, force of skilled workers who cut and sew and weld and paint and box and ship the products all over the world.

We really enjoyed our visit and thank Fol Da Tank for the opportunity to visit.
 
Rolls of tank fabric are stacked and awaiting the next tank order. Fol-Da-Tank makes a wide variety of liquid containment systems - most of them for FD use - but several for use in other industries.
Rolls of tank fabric are stacked and awaiting the next tank order. Fol-Da-Tank makes a wide variety of liquid containment systems - most of them for FD use - but several for use in other industries.
 
A worker is shown here joining two pieces of fabric together using a high-temperature machine that basically makes a melted seam that is very strong.
A worker is shown here joining two pieces of fabric together using a high-temperature machine that basically makes a melted seam that is very strong.
 
Another worker is hand stitching fabric panels together for another project.
Another worker is hand stitching fabric panels together for another project.
 
At this station, the heavy duty tank bottom is being attached to the tank side panels (red) using the same high temperature seaming process.
At this station, the heavy duty tank bottom is being attached to the tank side panels (red) using the same high temperature seaming process.
 
All size steel and aluminum tank frames stand ready waiting on their tanks.
All size steel and aluminum tank frames stand ready waiting on their tanks.
 
The Milan plant makes all of the other product lines as well - including low level strainers, supply line holders, and floating strainers.
The Milan plant makes all of the other product lines as well - including low level strainers, supply line holders, and floating strainers.
 
Fol-Da-Tank also makes the Float Dock strainer and has so since it was invented in 1954.
Fol-Da-Tank also makes the Float Dock strainer and has so since it was invented in 1954.
 
A pumper from the Postville FD uses one of Fol-Da-Tank's new Single-Lane Tanks at a recent water supply drill in Stanley, Iowa.
A pumper from the Postville FD uses one of Fol-Da-Tank's new Single-Lane Tanks at a recent water supply drill in Stanley, Iowa.